The educational revolution is underway and the catalyst is the internet. One issue that’s going to be the subject of ongoing debate is whether online learning can be associated with other than a second rate education? Search “learn XYZ online” and you’ll be bombarded with a broad variety of sponsored ads that offer anything from “MBA Fast” to a certificate in fields from Architecture to X-Ray Technician. The late comers to online schools are the well-heeled academia. They argue that human interaction is critical to accelerated learning and believe certain teachers (and pedagogical approaches) are …

Amid growing evidence of the ongoing democratization of learning, out of the classroom and into the hands of self-paced students around the world, Rosetta Stone, a product-based language learning software focused on the US, has grown revenue from $15.5 million in 2003 to $137.3 million in 2007. This week the company filed with the SEC to take the company public in an IPO. The public filings suggest a sale of up to $115 million in securities. The company has applied for the ticker “RST” on the NYSE. The offering will be underwritten …

It’s indisputable that the web is beginning to change the way we access knowledge. While many have been asking over recent years where are all the investments in online educational start-ups, several are starting to turn the corner.

Tutor.com, an early stage company that provides instant homework help, connected students to an expert tutor over 900,000 times during the 2007-2008 school year. On average, during any given hour on a school …

Just 30 years ago, Chinese citizens were forbidden to learn English and could be imprisoned for listening to an English radio station. Now China has the largest number of English learners in the world. Will they ever be heard?

As globalization has required increasing communication, the Beijing Olympics has catapulted international attention onto the growing need for English. Beijing’s push for English proficiency gained increasing momentum after its successful bid for this year’s Olympics back in 2001. With the mantra “Let the world get to know China and let China play a role in the …

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE:

OPEN ENGLISH AND THE LOS ANGELES METROPOLITAN HISPANIC CHAMBERS OF COMMERCE (LAHMCC) ANNOUNCE STRATEGIC RELATIONSHIP

LOS ANGELES, CA, August 7, 2008 – LAHMCC partners with Open English, the pioneer in personalized English-learning solutions, to make English accessible to the US Hispanic community in Los Angeles. Together they will initiate their strategic relationship at the annual Ecuadorian cultural festival with a parade of thousands.

On August 10, 2008, nearly 200,000 Ecuadorians living in Southern California will commemorate Ecuador’s Independence Day with local music, food, and cultural booths, culminating with the yearly Ecuadorian Parade through downtown Los Angeles. …

This week in our Spotlighter get to know Beatriz Lopez, also known affectionately at Open English as our Head of Magical Solutions.

What Initially Drew You to Open English?

Since I grew up in a bilingual home, I had the chance to learn both English and Spanish simultaneously. I consider myself very lucky for having had this opportunity. Knowing this once I got older and moved to Venezuela, I discovered the importance of speaking English, and thought everyone should try and learn one way or another. Working for Open English allows me to …

A few months ago I was surprised to learn that English was not the “official” language of the U.S. More recently I was again surprised (apparently I have a low threshold), this time to learn that there is a movement underway to confirm that English is the official language of the U.S. The following headline caught my eye “Efforts to make English the ‘official language’ of the U.S. gained momentum this week when three members of Congress added their support [to] the English Language Unity Act.”

I have no fundamental opposition to rationale laws that …

The following was presented at the Minnesota Council on the Teaching of Languages and Cultures (MCTLC) in October of 2007. It’s difficult to argue that notwithstanding the ubiquity and growing adoption of English, the need for multi-lingualism is going to continue to grow in the US and around the world.